The Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund will support the protection of 1,460 acres of critical habitat across the state

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Vermont is proud to announce the new grant recipients of its Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund (VBPF), supporting land protection projects in priority regions across the state. In this round of the VBPF, TNC Vermont awarded $500,000 to seven conservation organizations, leveraging $2,792,423 in funding from other sources. The projects will protect 1,460 acres of land in areas that maintain regional forest connectivity, support biodiversity, and improve Vermont’s climate resilience. These grants build upon the first round of the VBPF, bringing the total awarded to $1 million.

Vermont has a goal of conserving 30% of our lands and waters by 2030, which requires a strong network of conservation partners, including local land trusts, state agencies and community supporters. The Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund is an investment in Vermont’s conservation landscape to catalyze critical land protection work in key areas.

The seven projects that were awarded funding this winter are:

Buffalo Mountain Town Forest (Northern Rivers Land Trust) – Hardwick, VT – Walkable from downtown Hardwick, the Buffalo Mountain Town Forest project hosts 15 rare plant species. Conserving this 329-acre area will bolster the protection of a corridor stretching from the vast Woodbury Mountain Preserve down to the Lamoille River.

Wennberg Forest (Vermont Land Trust) – Waterbury, VT – This 226-acre site adds to a critical connectivity zone between the Mt. Mansfield Forest Block and Worcester Range. The Wennberg property is a high priority in the Shutesville Hill Wildlife Corridor partnership, an effort of over ten conservation organizations, towns and state agencies to protect this migration corridor.

Ledge Brook Headwaters (Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association) – Grafton, VT – This 130-acre property is an important expansion to a 3,000+ acre block of existing conserved land. Hosting bear-scarred beech trees, it connects to the nearby prime bear habitat in the Turner Hill Wildlife Management Area.

Clyde River Conservation Connection (Vermont River Conservancy) – Charleston, VT – With exceptional freshwater benefits, this 155-acre riverfront parcel will protect 1.5 miles of river corridor along the Clyde River and 105 acres of wetlands.

Simpson Brook Stepping Stone (Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation) – West Townshend, VT – The protection of this 309-acre property will secure permanent public access rights, ensuring community members can access the area for activities like hiking, hunting, fishing and cross-country skiing. With 1.6 miles of stream frontage, it provides water quality and flood resilience benefits for the West River and Saxton River watersheds.

Pinneo Forest (Trust for Public Land) – Bolton, VT – This project will add 278 acres in Bolton to Mt. Mansfield State Forest. As part of the State Forest, this land will be open to the public for dispersed recreation like walking, snowshoeing, skiing and wildlife viewing. This location will improve wildlife passage along the spine of the Greens between the Mt. Mansfield and Camel’s Hump forest blocks, a critical wildlife corridor that is bisected by I-89 and Route 2.

Maple Crossing (Mount Holly Conservation Trust) – Weston, VT – The conservation of this forested, 33-acre property will protect more than 2,000 feet of tributaries to the West River, improving the flood resilience of the area. This parcel strengthens the regionally significant wildlife corridor known as the “Southern Vermont Wildlife Corridor,” protecting habitat for a suite of species, including bear, bobcat and moose.

“Locally owned and managed town forests are essential to the lives of Vermonters,” said Northern Rivers Land Trust Board Chair Jack Travelstead. “Buffalo Mountain Town Forest will give Hardwick residents and visitors ready access to outdoor recreation, contributing to community vitality while protecting clean water and preventing forest fragmentation.

“Healthy forests and waters are the foundation of healthy communities that support the diversity of life. To conserve 30% of Vermont’s lands and waters we need to support a strong conservation ecosystem of partners, practitioners, and people committed to safeguarding nature into the future. The Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund is one way The Nature Conservancy enables great conservation work from the ground up,” said Eve Frankel, Vermont State Director for The Nature Conservancy. “This effort would not be possible without the generous and unwavering support of our donors and funders.”   

“The Mt. Holly Conservation Trust (MHCT) is proud to partner with The Nature Conservancy in Vermont to advance our mutual commitment to conserving Vermont’s most ecologically important landscapes. With the support of the Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund, we’re able to protect strategic parcels that bolster habitat connectivity and climate resilience across the region,” said MHCT Board Member Kim Royar. “The Maple Crossing acquisition is a testament to that shared vision, enhancing the connection to the Awasos Wildlife Management Area.”

The next round of VBPF funding will open to applicants in Spring 2026. Land trusts, municipalities, and state agencies are eligible to apply. For more information on the Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund, visit the VBPF website.